Developing My Own Breed Of Large Gamefowl For Free Range Survival (Junglefowl x Liege)

[Florida Bullfrog]

Also have you seen any physical changes in Sherman's chicks compared to the regular birds?

No, nothing unusual. They’re keeping their fuzz longer. But the Crackers always feather out faster than other chickens.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

No, he was an odd egg that the brood hen laid after Shermans brood.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

No, nothing unusual. They’re keeping their fuzz longer. But the Crackers always feather out faster than other chickens.

I ask because about a quarter of my oriental chicks seem to have some form of recessive slow feathering gene. I have been trying to breed it out but it keeps cropping up. Its even showing up in about 40% of my grades this year.

 

[cubalaya]

I ask because about a quarter of my oriental chicks seem to have some form of recessive slow feathering gene. I have been trying to breed it out but it keeps cropping up. Its even showing up in about 40% of my grades this year.

i had this in my duckwing cubalayas. could never breed it out and keep the good color

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

Yeah, I'm letting everybody grow out for now but I'll have to start culling this fall.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

I ask because about a quarter of my oriental chicks seem to have some form of recessive slow feathering gene. I have been trying to breed it out but it keeps cropping up. Its even showing up in about 40% of my grades this year.

Do you mean just slow to convert fuzz to feathers? Or patchy feathering with bare skin?

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

Slow to grow feathers in the first place, and likely slow to replace them as adults. Plumage looks the same though.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

Sherman has lots of bare spots where his red skin shows. But I figured that’s
just typical oriental feather patterns.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

It is, but some birds feather slower. They look the same once feathered just some feather slower.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

Any updated pics of sherman? I love comparing him with my birds.